§ Mr. TrendTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 21 December 1992.
§ Mr. HurdMy right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 December. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry was present for the discussion of trade issues.
The Council discussed follow-up to the Edinburgh European Council. On high definition television—HDTV —Ministers held a short discussion on a Commission proposal for a five-year action plan to support the development of HDTV. No decisions were taken and the subject was remitted for further work under the Danish presidency. On enlargement of the Community, Ministers noted that negotiations with Austria, Sweden and Finland would open formally on 1 February.
The Council expressed the Community's willingness to enter into negotiations with EFTA member states on the changes necessary to the European economic area agreement after the negative vote in the Swiss referendum. The Council invited the Commission to submit as soon as possible a recommendation for the opening of these negotiations.
The Council continued discussion of a Commission proposal to change the decision-making procedures for Community anti-dumping and other commercial defence measures, and to establish common rules for imports of goods from third countries. The Council also discussed the export regimes for goods which have both civil and military uses. Pending agreement on the draft regulation on export controls on these dual-use goods and technologies, member states agreed the nature of interim controls which would apply to intra-Community trade in such goods from 1 January.
When the Council discussed the court of first instance, one member state maintained its reserve on the proposed transfer of dumping and subsidy cases from the European Court of Justice to the court of first instance. The Council therefore decided to send the issue back to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for early discussion under the Danish presidency.
Recent developments in the Yugoslav crisis were discussed, including the enforcement of the no-fly zone over Bosnia, Kosovo, implementation of the United Nations and EC sanctions regimes and EDC economic assistance to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The Commission presented a draft negotiating mandate for a new partnership agreement with Morocco. Detailed discussion will now take place under the Danish presidency.
In the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council there was a conference of representatives of member states to agree the nomination of new Commissioners.
An EC/Cyprus Association Council also took place in the margins of the Council.